Benedetta ★★★½
PERTH’S annual arts festival would usually not be expected to include a film by Dutch enfant terrible Paul Verhoeven.
But there it was – the R-rated Benedetta, from the director of Elle, Basic Instinct, Showgirls, Robocop and Total Recall – beckoning in the 2021/22 program.
If this was as outrageous as his 1985 Flesh + Blood medieval drama, it would be an interesting night.
As it turns out Benedetta comes highly rated after festival successes and is touted as something serious and different for Verhoeven.
I say ‘something’ because that’s the case according to European critics used to more controversial fare from the Dutchman.
However, here in Australia, Benedetta’s serious pretentions – it’s based on apparently true events – will I suspect be subject to more scrutiny due to the scenes of sex and violence, particularly those involving religious context.
Verhoeven has always been keen to explore the nature of faith and give Christianity in particular a poke. Benedetta is no exception.
Belgian actress Virginie Efira plays Benedetta Carlini, a devout young Christian girl in 17th century Italy who joins a convent.
While very devout in her faith Benedetta also has an independent spirit that leads to form a relationship with a new novice, Bertolomea, played by Daphne Patakia.
At the same time Benedetta insists that she has visions of Christ in which he violently despatches anyone who threatens her.
When she also appears to be suffering from stigmata Benedetta becomes a severely divisive force in the convent and wider church with some considering her a saint and others a charlatan.
This results in Benedetta’s trial for engaging in sapphism.
On one level, the film can be considered a serious examination of a controversial, minor character from history and what this tells us about the nature of faith.
But when you also have scenes of women using a wooden dildo on each other and Jesus lopping peoples’ heads off you can rightly question where Verhoeven’s intentions really lie.
Still, any and all of his films have been entertaining to say the least and Benedetta continues that tradition.